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  (Photo: Reuters/Phil Noble)
  Manchester City's Mario Balotelli scores a penalty kick against Borussia Dortmund during their Champions League Group D soccer match in Manchester October 3, 2012.

Manchester City host Swansea City Saturday at the Etihad Stadium as City aim to keep pace with Chelsea at the top of the English Premier League.

For EPL champions Manchester City and manager Roberto Mancini their crushing defeat in their Champions League fixture at the hands of Ajax on Wednesday has critics claiming that Mancini's back line is not working.

The Italian boss has insisted that it is not his formation that is cause for concern, but that his players must refocus and play to their strengths and capabilities. He warns if they can't they should look for a different club.

"Good players should be able to play in any system," Mancini told reporters during a recent press conference.

"If you are a top player, the system is not important. If you don't understand you are not a top player and you cannot play for a top team," he added.

To make his task harder is the fact that several top players will be unavailable as they recover from injury.

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David Silva continues to recover from a hamstring injury which has kept him out for the past two matches. In addition to Silva, Manchester City will also be without defenders Pablo Zabaleta and Maicon as well as midfielders Javi Garcia and Jack Rodwell.

Midfielder James Milner will also be in the stands on Saturday as he is serving his suspension after he was sent off against West Brom during the club's last league match.

For Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup, he has a full squad to choose from.

Swansea currently sit in 10th position in the Premier League and are playing with a great deal of confidence after their win over Wigan during the club's last league match, but will understand it's a completely different task at hand playing the champs in their own back yard.

"The Etihad has become something of a fortress for them there, but we've got to go there in a positive frame of mind," said Swansea striker Wayne Routledge during a press conference.

"But when you play Manchester City whatever they do it's going to be a really hard game on Saturday. We have to get our minds right and be ready from the start," he added.

Kick-off for the match is at 12:30 p.m. EDT and can be watched online here.